Swimming shoe



Dec. 15, 1931. BLECHNER 1,836,835

SWIMMING SHOE Filed March 4, 1931 A gy 4 I \J Li a \NVENTOR ALBERT BLECHNER T ORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALBERT BLECHNER, or EAST PORT CHESTER, CON ECTICUT SWIMMING SHOE Application filed March 4,

when used in water shall have a large propelling area and yet when used peripatetically bathing shoe and shall not be substantially larger than the ordinary shoe.

To effect the foregoing object I provide, according to my invention, an elastic cover or propelling member fastened to a form or foot fitting shoe only at the mouth or opening thereof. The bottom edge of the cover is fastened to the shoe sole by spaced straps, in a fashion to be described more fully hereinafter, whereby, when the shoe is thrust against the water during swimming, the cover moves away from the shoe an amount limited by the straps and the elasticity of the material used for the cover, thereby furnishing the swimmer with a much enlarged propelling surface. On the reverse stroke, the cover moves against the shoe, reducing the swimming resistance to only that presented by the ordinary shoe. To assist in this action for the cover or flap, and have it cling closely to the shoe when not used for increasing thrust against the water, the cover member is made preferably of rubber, and preferably folded so as to conform closely to the shape of the shoe or foot. If desired, no folds need be provided, added propelling action being furnished by the elasticity of the cover member itself.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide a swimming shoe which shall be simple in construction and operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

As required by statute, it has been attempt- 1931. Serial No. 520,002.

ed to point out and define thepresent invention in the appended claim. However, it may best be understood, both as to the structural correlationship of the various elements thereof and as to its mode of operation by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein 1 'Flgure l is a sideelevatlonal perspective view of my improved swimming shoe, i Figure 2 1s a side elevational view, in perspective of my shoe when thrust against water or other fluid to assist in the propulsion of the body through the water; and, 4

Figure 3 is a bottom plan vie-w of my improved shoe showing the cover or propelling 'member in expanded form. shall have the appearance of an ordinary Referringto the drawings and for the presout to Figure 2, I have shown a form or foot fitting shoe 2, having a vamp 4, a toe portion 6, an outsole 8, an insole 10, a backstay 12, a

and a mouth or foot opening 20.

To the top 18 and at the opening periphery thereof, I vulcanize or otherwise suitably "heelportion 14, the usual backstay, a top 18 fasten thereto, a flap, propelling member or elastic cover 22, which as shown in Figure 1, is suitably folded or creased as indicated at 24 so that, normally, the cover closely conforms tothe outer surface of the shoe.

The toe portion of the cover may be fastened as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 2, between the insole and outsole, or, it may be strapped to the soles similar to the remaining portion of the lower edge of the cover.

As indicated in Figures 2 and 3, when the shoe is thrust against the water, the free end of the cover moves away from the shoe, expanding as shown, an amount limited by spaced straps 26, :28, 30, 82 and the elasticity of the cover. The straps are preferably made of rubber, and folded or provided with creases, so that when the cover 22 resumes its normal unexpanded position, the straps as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1 lie be- If desired, the cover may be made to bulge slightly at its middle, between the mouth 18 and the soles; or, in other Words, it may be made relatively close fitting at the soles and loose at the center portion. In this manner, when the shoe is thrust into the water, there will be less tendency for the edge of the cover to turn back upon itself. Moreover, for this purpose the lower edge of the cover may be reinforced in any suitable way so as to be less elastic than the mid portion of the cover;

It should be clear that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my present invention. Thus, for example, the number of straps used is immaterial; and, obviously the invention may readily be applied to shoes of the Oxford type.

Or, the cover need not be made of a single piece of rubber, but may be slitted so as to have a number of sections which fit closely about the shoe. Each section should, of course, be suitably strapped to the soles. Consequently, the present invention is not to be construed as, limited by the foregoing detailed description thereof, but is to be given a scope commensurate with the claim which follows.

Having thus described my invention, what .I claim is: .3

closely fitting the human foot, an elastic cover Swimming apparatus comprising a shoe fastened to the mouth of the shoe said cover consisting of an elastic material folded so as to conform to the outer contour of the shoe, and extending to the soles of the shoe, said cover at the toe portion lying and fastened between the insole and outsole of said shoe, and spaced straps fastened to the free edge of said cover at one end and at their other end fastened to the shoe between the insole and outsole thereof, whereby when said shoe is thrust into water, said cover extends away from said shoe an amount limited by the length of said straps thereby providing an increased propelling area for said shoe.

ALBERT BLEGHNER. 

